Leg hinge, as for tables



May 23, 1939. H. L. MQPHERSON LEG HINGE, A5 FOR TABLES Filed Jan. 15, 1937 N O 3 M W WW 5 a w v k w o I'M/07am fir/y 1. 01-507 Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to hinges particularly adapted for use in connection with the legs of tables, which legs are adapted to be'folded or closed against the top of the table, when the table 5 is not in use.

The objects of the invention are to make hinges each adapted to pivotally carry a leg of a table, the hinges permitting the unfolding or opening of the legs into open position, and, by manual displacement, of a portion of the hinges, permitting the refolding or closing of the table leg to inoperative position.

'A further object of the invention is to make a hinge which may be economically manufactured, which is simple in operation, and forms a solid and efficient latch for the table leg.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the method of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification, on reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,-

, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the underside of a table, showing the legs of the table open for use.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the hinge, pivotally securing the upper end of a table leg, and showing a fragmentary portion of two rails intersecting at one of the table corners, the top of the table being cut away, as on the line IIII of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a corresponding front elevation.

Fig. 4 is a corresponding end elevation.

Fig. 5 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 2 and showing a modified form of one of the hinge members, and a spring adapted to act as a dog and replace both dog and spring.

Referring now to the drawing, in which the various parts are indicated by reference numerals, III, II, I2 and I3 are the four rails of a table, to which rails a top I4 is securely attached. I5 and I6 are two of the hinges and I1, I8, I9 and 20 the four table legs. The hinges I5, I6, etc., the table legs I'I, etc., and the table corners being of identical construction, only the corner formed by the rails I0 and I I, the hinge member I5, and the leg I1 are shown in the detailed views and will be hereinafter referred to.

The hinge comprising a member of flat metal of general L shape in plan, this member having a straight portion 25, usually designated a leg but here called an arm to distinguish from the table legs, and a portion 26 at right angles thereto, which is outwardly offset at 21 and has a parallel continuation 28, the part so formed being designated an offset arm. At its outer end the oflsetthus formed, preferably has an inwardly turned shallow flange 29 forming an abutment. 30 is an angle shaped member which is secured to the arm 25 and to the rail ID by screws 3| and which cooperates with the portion 26 of the offset arm to form a pocket of generally U shape, i

adapted to closely embrace the leg I'!. The part 26 and the angular member 30 have aligned holes therein, through which and through a corresponding hole in the leg H, a pivot pin 32 is disposed and secured. 33 is a plate, the lower end of which is secured to the leg IT, as by a screw 34, and which plate has in its upper end a hole through which the pivot pin 32 also passes. 35 is a washer. 4D is a dog, preferably of somewhat less than one half the width of the arm 26, this dog being disposed in the offset part 28 of the arm adjacent its lower edge, with one end against the abutment flange 29, and being of such lengths that when the leg I1 is in fully opened position its opposite end 40A is adapted to abut an edge of the plate 33. Preferably the plate 33 has a notch 41 formed in this edge, in order that the end of the dog will be against a corner of the leg I! when the dog is in engagement with the plate 33. Disposed between the dog 40 and the offset portion 28, is a leaf spring 42, which spring acts to urge the end 40A of the dog outward. Preferably the spring 42 and this offset portion 28 are secured to the rail II by a screw 43, the holes in this spring and the portion 28 conforming closely to the diameter of the shank of the screw, in order that the base of the flared head of the screw will engage and solidly secure both to the table rail. The dog 40 also has a hole therethrough for the screw 43 this hole being counter-sunk in conformity with the shape of the screw head, but being sufliciently large to permit movement of the dog, even when the screw is firmly seated against the spring, though preventing its dislodgement and removal. Preferably the arm 26 is also secured to the rail I I by an additional screw 44. It will be noted that the ofifset mentioned is of sufiicient depth to house both the dog and spring, and allow the leg I! to clear the dog when the dog is pushed backward to permit closing movement.

In Fig. 5 the spring 49 shown is adapted to function as dog and spring; also the angle shaped member is shown with a substantially identical offset arm formed by the parts 26A, 21A and 28A, but the outer end of the arm 25A of the member has an outward turned portion 50, which takes the place of the angle shaped member 30 first shown.

In assembling, a table leg with the plate 33 attached is brought against the offset arm and a rivet slipped through the arm and leg. The washer 35 and the angle member 30 are assembled on the rivet and a head formed thereon to complete the structure. These hinge-attached legs are placed each in a corner formed as by the two rails i and l I, and the structure secured by the screws 3| and 44. The dog 40 and the spring 42 are then secured by the screw 43 and the installation is complete.

In using the device the table legs are swung from closed position to open position, the legs in such movement depressing and overriding the dog 40. When in fully open position the spring 42 moves the outer end 40A of the dog into engagement with the notched edge of the plate 33, being stopped in such position by the leg, and eifecting the locking of the leg in such open position. 7

To fold the table legs each dog is depressed to free the corresponding plate 33 and the legs swung into closed position. It will be noted that the steadiness of the leg in one direction is dependent upon the tightness of the rivet, and that this may be easily regulated and controlled. In the opposite or looking direction it will be noted that the steadiness and/or rigidity is effected through the plate 33 and the dog 4!], both of which preferably are of metal, that the opposite edge of the plate abuts solidly against the metal of the offset hinge member, and that the dog at its outer end abuts against a flange portion of the same member.

What I claim is:

A hinge and lock, for a table leg having an upper end of rectangular cross section, with a pin aperture therethrough; the table having a top, and rails intersecting at right angles, extending downwardly therefrom; said hinge comprising a unitary member of flat strap material bent to form an L adapted to lie along two intersecting sides of said leg, both arms of said L being of substantially greater length than the width of the contiguous sides of said leg to provide extending portions; a first of said arms being provided with a hinge pin receiving aperture and eing outwardly offset, within the limit of its contiguous leg side, to a parallel plane, said oifset arm terminating in an inwardly extending flange, the extending portions of both said arms being apertured to receive attaching screws; one said aperture in said offset arm being adjacent said flange said lock including a flat plate of less than leg width disposed between said leg and said off-set arm and secured to said leg, said plate being apertured for said hinge pin and extending laterally to overlie said ofifset but not to the adjacent corner of said leg; a detached leaf spring and a detached dog of greater length than said spring but less length than said offset portion, said dog being adapted to overlie said spring and at one end to abut said flange and at the opposite end to abut said ofi-set-overlying edge of said plate and contact the extending leg side, both said spring and said dog being apertured to conform to the aperture in said arm adjacent said flange, said dog aperture being countersunk to loosely receive and be retained by a screw adapted to solidly secure said spring and said off-set arm against a said rail; an angle member adapted to seat on the second said arm of said L, the arms of said angle member being respectively apertured to conform to the apertures in said second L-arm and to said pin aperture; and a pin adapted to pass through the pin apertures of said leg, said L, and said angle member, and being securable in the latter two of said apertures.

HARRY L. MCPHERSON. 

